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IMDbPro

Cara Buono

  • Actress
  • Writer
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000273
Cara Buono
You know Cara Buono from "Stranger Things," "Mad Men," and "The Sopranos." So, IMDb presents this peek behind the scenes of her career.
Play clip1:10
All About Cara Buono
31 Videos
99+ Photos
As a young girl growing up in New York City, Cara Buono took her family's blue-collar work ethic and began to turn it into an acting career that would later lead not only to starring roles but to screenwriting and directing. With no help from friends, family or mentors, she went out on her own, picked up a trade paper, saw an ad for a casting call and sneaked into an audition. She managed to land a role in Harvey Fierstein's play, "Spook House", despite her lack of experience.

From there on, Cara's career blossomed. She continued stage work both on and off-Broadway, and started her film career opposite Ethan Hawke and Jeremy Irons in Waterland (1992). Much of her work has been in indie films such as Chutney Popcorn (1999), Happy Accidents (2000), Next Stop Wonderland (1998) and Two Ninas (1999), which she co-produced.

As well as acting, Cara has directed, produced and written films, including the short film, Baggage (1997), which starred Liev Schreiber. She co-wrote the screenplay, "When The Cat's Away" (1999), with Brad Anderson, and cut a deal with Miramax for a screenplay adaptation of one of F. Scott Fitzgerald's work. Most recently, Cara starred on the final season of the NBC drama, Third Watch (1999), as Grace Foster, a headstrong paramedic with an unbridled ego and the skills to back it up.

Cara is a graduate of Columbia University, with a double major in English and Political Science. She got her degree in three years, again helped by her blue-collar work ethic.
BornMarch 1
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornMarch 1
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000273
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 1 win & 7 nominations total

    Photos117

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    + 113
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    Known for

    Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Natalia Dyer, Caleb McLaughlin, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Charlie Heaton, Noah Schnapp, and Gaten Matarazzo in Stranger Things (2016)
    Stranger Things
    8.6
    TV Series
    • Karen Wheeler
    Mad Men (2007)
    Mad Men
    8.7
    TV Series
    • Faye Miller
    Lorraine Bracco, James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Steven Van Zandt, Dominic Chianese, Robert Iler, Michael Imperioli, Steve Schirripa, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Aida Turturro in The Sopranos (1999)
    The Sopranos
    9.2
    TV Series
    • Kelli Moltisanti
    • Kelli Lombardo
    Jim Caviezel and Michael Emerson in Person of Interest (2011)
    Person of Interest
    8.5
    TV Series
    • Martine Rousseau

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Actress



    • Stranger Things
      • Karen Wheeler
      • Released
      • TV Series
      • 2025



    • Things Like This (2025)
      Things Like This
      5.2
      • Margie Kitlin
      • 2025
    • V13 (2025)
      V13
      7.3
      • Ida
      • 2025
    • Tony Goldwyn, Maura Tierney, Hugh Dancy, Reid Scott, Mehcad Brooks, and Odelya Halevi in Law & Order (1990)
      Law & Order
      7.8
      TV Series
      • Lisa Dumont
      • Attorney Shannon
      • Alice Simonelli ...
      • 1996–2024
    • In Fidelity (2024)
      In Fidelity
      4.8
      • Holly Ayker
      • 2024
    • Emily Bett Rickards in Queen of the Ring (2024)
      Queen of the Ring
      6.5
      • Bertha
      • 2024
    • Cara Buono and John Schoenthaler in Always, Already (2024)
      Always, Already
      Short
      • Cara
      • 2024
    • Katie Douglas in The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story (2023)
      The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story
      6.2
      • Debra Robinson
      • 2023
    • William Sadler, Cara Buono, Michael Park, Spencer List, Clare Foley, Ehad Berisha, Giselle Torres, Adam Weppler, and Madeleine Dauer in She Came from the Woods (2022)
      She Came from the Woods
      4.6
      • Heather McCalister
      • 2022
    • Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Natalia Dyer, Caleb McLaughlin, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Charlie Heaton, Noah Schnapp, and Gaten Matarazzo in Stranger Things (2016)
      Stranger Things
      8.6
      TV Series
      • Karen Wheeler
      • 2016–2022
    • Elle Fanning in The Girl from Plainville (2022)
      The Girl from Plainville
      6.4
      TV Mini Series
      • Gail Carter
      • 2022
    • David Harewood, Chyler Leigh, Jesse Rath, Azie Tesfai, Melissa Benoist, Katie McGrath, and Nicole Maines in Supergirl (2015)
      Supergirl
      6.2
      TV Series
      • Gemma Cooper
      • Gamemnae
      • 2019–2021
    • Sleepy Waffles in Sleepy Waffles: Stranger Things Series Reaction (2019)
      Sleepy Waffles: Stranger Things Series Reaction
      TV Series
      • Karen Wheeler
      • 2019
    • God Friended Me (2018)
      God Friended Me
      7.0
      TV Series
      • Karen
      • 2019
    • The Romanoffs (2018)
      The Romanoffs
      7.0
      TV Mini Series
      • Debbie Newman
      • 2018
    • Rob Lowe and Mckenna Grace in The Bad Seed (2018)
      The Bad Seed
      5.9
      TV Movie
      • Angela
      • 2018

    Writer



    • Baggage
      7.0
      Short
      • Writer
      • 1997

    Producer



    • William Sadler, Cara Buono, Michael Park, Spencer List, Clare Foley, Ehad Berisha, Giselle Torres, Adam Weppler, and Madeleine Dauer in She Came from the Woods (2022)
      She Came from the Woods
      4.6
      • producer
      • 2022
    • Amanda Peet, Cara Buono, and Ron Livingston in Two Ninas (1999)
      Two Ninas
      6.1
      • associate producer
      • 1999

    Verified affiliations

    Learn more at IMDbPro
    SAG-AFTRA

    Videos31

    All About Cara Buono
    Clip 1:10
    All About Cara Buono
    Questions We Have About "Stranger Things" Season 4
    Clip 3:35
    Questions We Have About "Stranger Things" Season 4
    Questions We Have About "Stranger Things" Season 4
    Clip 3:35
    Questions We Have About "Stranger Things" Season 4
    Upside Down the Rabbit Holes of "Stranger Things"
    Clip 3:45
    Upside Down the Rabbit Holes of "Stranger Things"
    "Do You Like Me?"
    Clip 1:14
    "Do You Like Me?"
    "Are You Involved in Some Kind of Cult?"
    Clip 1:02
    "Are You Involved in Some Kind of Cult?"
    "Are You a Vampire?"
    Clip 1:18
    "Are You a Vampire?"

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Official site
      • Instagram
    • Height
      • 5′ 5″ (1.65 m)
    • Born
      • March 1
      • The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA
    • Spouse
      • Peter ThumJuly 11, 2009 - present (1 child)
    • Parents
        Rosemary Buono
    • Other works
      Broadway: The Rose Tattoo opposite Anthony LaPaglia

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Ran in three New York City Marathons--1998, 1999 and 2005. She was set to run the 2006 Marathon but had to drop about a week before due to an injury.
    • Quotes
      I had some experience when I joined The Sopranos (1999) in the last season. My character married Christopher, and everyone loved Adriana. I knew what it was like to join a very beloved, secretive show and following a very iconic character.

    FAQ

    Powered by Alexa
    • Where was Cara Buono born?
      The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA
    • How tall is Cara Buono?
      5 feet 5 inches, or 1.65 meters
    • What is Cara Buono known for?
      The Sopranos, Mad Men, Person of Interest, and Stranger Things
    • Is Cara Buono married?
      Yes, to Peter Thum since July 11, 2009
    • Who are Cara Buono's parents?
      Rosemary Buono and Antony Buono

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